Translation and Legalisation — Our Personal Experience
After collecting the documents required for our civil marriage, we need to prepare some of them for use in Luxembourg.
The process involves translation and legalisation.
This is how we experience it.
Looking for a Translator
The Embassy of Luxembourg in Bangkok publishes a list of sworn translators on its website.
These translators can translate documents in a form accepted by the Embassy.
I contact four translators from the list by email to request an offer.
Two do not answer.
The other two reply.
Their estimated working time is approximately one week.
The prices range from approximately 600 Thai baht to more than 2,000 Thai baht.
We are surprised that the translation could take this long.
An Appointment Is Already Booked
Because we do not expect such a long waiting time for the translation, we have already booked an appointment with the Legalization Division of the Department of Consular Affairs at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.
We decide not to wait for the translated birth certificate before continuing.
Instead, we decide to have the documents already available in English legalised first.
We can then return later with the translated document.
An Unexpected Translation Offer
When we arrive at the building of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a man speaks with my wife.
He says that he is known and accepted by the Ministry.
He offers to translate the document for 400 Thai baht within one hour.
We are initially unsure.
We wonder whether the offer could be a scam.
However, we only need to pay after receiving the translated document and accepting it.
Because we arrive early and have time before our appointment, we decide to try.
The price is also lower than the other offers we receive.
Waiting for the Translation
After approximately one hour, a delivery person arrives with the translated document.
We carefully check it.
We discover an error.
The translation is corrected, and approximately twenty minutes later we receive a corrected version.
Only after checking and accepting the corrected document do we pay the fee.
This experience teaches us an important lesson.
Always check a translated document carefully.
Names.
Dates.
Places.
And other personal details.
A small mistake can create a problem later.
The Legalization Division
After receiving the translation, we go to the office of the Legalization Division.
We receive a queue ticket.
The waiting time is quite long because many members of staff are taking their lunch break.
Eventually, we reach the officer.
We submit the documents.
The fee is 200 Thai baht per stamp.
We are told to return after three days to collect the legalised documents.
Collecting the Documents
When returning to collect the legalised documents, the queue is much shorter.
The entire visit takes approximately twenty minutes.
We now have the documents legalised by the Thai authorities.
The Embassy of Luxembourg in Bangkok
The next step is an appointment with the Embassy of Luxembourg in Bangkok.
During the appointment, the Embassy officer places the necessary mark and stamp on the documents while we wait.
For our procedure, the fee is 800 Thai baht per stamp.
After this step, the documents are prepared for their intended legal use in Luxembourg according to our personal procedure.
Preparing the Complete File in Luxembourg
Once the legalised documents are ready, we add them to the rest of the marriage file.
For our appointment, the file includes:
A copy of my wife’s passport.
A copy of my identity card.
A copy of my birth certificate.
The civil marriage questionnaire from the municipality.
The legalised documents.
I arrange an appointment with the population office to verify that everything is correct.
The documents are accepted.
The file is complete.
Everything is good.
What We Learn
Our experience teaches us several useful lessons.
Start Early
Translation and legalisation can take longer than expected.
Contact More Than One Translator
Not everyone replies, and prices and waiting times can vary.
Check Every Translation
Errors can happen.
Check the document before accepting it.
Keep Enough Time for Appointments
Queues, appointments and collection times can all add additional days to the process.
Keep Copies
Keep paper and digital copies of important documents whenever possible.
Important
This page describes our own experience.
Translation, legalisation and administrative procedures can change.
Fees and processing times can also change.
Always check the current requirements with the relevant official authorities.